Israeli warplanes struck a bridge in the southern suburb of Beirut, a Hizbullah stronghold, and the fuel stores of the Jiyyeh power plant south of the city early on Friday, witnesses and security sources said.

The Lebanese Army responded with anti-aircraft fire. Al Manar television reported that two people died and 17 were injured as a result of the strike. The Israeli strike came after a rocket slammed into Israel's northern port city of Haifa on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urged Israel late Thursday to exercise restraint in its attacks against Lebanese targets and demanded Syria press Hizbullah to stop attacking Israel. "It is extremely important that Israel exercise restraint in its acts of self-defense," she told reporters travelling with U.S. President George W. Bush in Germany.

Bush earlier said Israel has a right to defend itself with its attacks in Lebanon but that it should not weaken the Lebanese government. Rice said the message was being sent through numerous diplomatic channels and added: "I think they understand the need to exercise restraint."